Microsoft to Retire Windows Live Brand Ahead of Windows 8 Launch

Microsoft will retire the Windows Live brand as it gets ready to release what it describes as a more connected set of online consumer services with Windows 8.

From PCWorld:

Its vision for a set of tightly woven services and desktop applications that Microsoft outlined when it unveiled Windows Live in 2005 hasn't been fully realized, the company said on Wednesday.

Right now, services like its Hotmail webmail service, SkyDrive storage service and Messenger IM service aren't as closely meshed as they should be with Windows Live desktop software like Photo Gallery and Movie Maker, nor with the Windows Live ID account service, Microsoft said in a blog post.